Following a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke to reporters before returning to Washington.
Austin spent the last week in Europe on what is likely his final trip to the continent as part of the Biden administration.
His itinerary included a NATO Defense Ministers' meeting in Brussels, the first-ever G7 Defense Ministers' meeting in Italy, a surprise visit to Kyiv, and a final stop at the Vatican.
While in Kyiv, Austin announced that the U.S. would provide Ukraine with $800 million to boost drone production. When asked whether the funds could be used for ballistic missiles, Austin emphasized the effectiveness of drones, which can "strike 400 kilometers beyond the border with precision."
"I think that addresses the needs that they'll have not only now, but long into the future," he added.
Ukraine has repeatedly called on the West to lift restrictions on using long-range ballistic missiles to target Russia.
When asked whether Israel's actions had crossed the line from self-defense into a punitive war against Gaza and Lebanon, Austin described both fronts as a "complicated, very difficult battle space" and held Hamas and Hezbollah responsible for using civilians as human shields.
"They put their stores of weapons in apartment buildings, beneath mosques, churches, and schools, and hospitals," he said.
However, Austin also cautioned Israel that neglecting civilian safety would fuel long-term Palestinian resistance.
